AN autistic woman has raised £700 for a charity close to her heart after completing a cycling challenge.

Louisa Summer, aged 49, cycled from Dawlish to Weymouth."

Louisa, from Worcester said: "It was great, I had quite an interesting ride. There were a few tricky places when I got to main roads but other than that I got through it with no problem.

I had help along the way with different parts of the ride."

When her foster mum passed away in 2014, the charity provided the support she needed when she was at her lowest point.

She said: "I had to cope with day-to-day living without the support of mum who helps me a lot and I had to come to terms with my difference of being autistic, which I didn’t understand at the time very well."

‘I am doing this particular ride Dawlish to Weymouth for many reasons but my main reason for doing what I do is because I'm one of thousands of people diagnosed with a no cure never-ending difference called autism. My autism is Asperger's syndrome.

It is also to mark my 50th birthday as well. This is my fifth challenge for the National Autistic Society and I've raised over £3,000 altogether.

I enjoy my fantastic cycle rides, last year I did my first coast to coast Weston-super-Mare to Southend-on-Sea."

At the end of the ride Louisa was met by family and friends and she was presented to the Mayor of Weymouth, councillor Gill Taylor, in a short ceremony.

Louisa has a GoFundMe page at: https://bit.ly/2XhviEu